Približno 44 milijonov Ukrajincev se je v četrtek, 24. februarja, zbudilo v vojnem stanju. In da bi razumeli zakaj je do tega prišlo, je potrebno raziskati preteklost.
(Slovenian above | English below)
Dogodek, ki je popolnoma zasenčil virus in preusmeril svetovno javnost na ozemlje Ukrajine, ki je od četrtka naprej v vojnem stanju, napoveduje temen scenarij za celotno Evropo, če se zadeve ne umirijo. Ruske sile so napadle ukrajinsko državno infrastrukturo, zlasti vojaške cilje in letališča, v večji meri pa naj bi uničile tudi protiletalsko obrambo.
Zunanji ministri EU so na zasedanju v Bruslju sprejeli »najhujši paket sankcij« proti Rusiji, Putin pa se je na nove napovedane sankcije Zahoda odzval tako, da je ukazal povišanje pripravljenosti jedrskih sil. Evropska unija bo prvič tudi financirala nakup in dostavo orožja v Ukrajino v vrednosti 450 milijonov evrov. Medtem pa je Ukrajina sporočila, da je pripravljena na pogajanja z Rusijo na ukrajinsko-beloruski meji v bližini Černobila.
In čeprav je Vladimir Putin v popolnosti odgovoren za napad, je hkrati potrebno tudi obsoditi Nato za kreiranje okoliščin, ki so stopnjevale napetosti in tako prispevale k vojnemu stanju v Ukrajini.
Razumevanje zgodovine Ukrajine
Ukrajina je največja evropska država s pomembnim geostrateškim položajem med Rusijo in Evropo. S površino 603.550 kvadratnih kilometrov je ena od 50 največjih držav sveta. Zaradi obsežnih rodovitnih ravnin, ki so posejane predvsem z žitom, je dobila vzdevek »žitnica Evrope«.
Kot izhodiščna točka je država imenovana Kijevska Rusija, ki jo za svojo predhodnico imajo tako Belorusi, Rusi in Ukrajinci. Obstajajo domneve, da to ni bila država vzhodnih Slovanov, ampak da so jo konec devetega stoletja ustanovili Skandinavci – Vikingi. Kijevska Rusija s prestolnico v Kijevu je vrhunec dosegla v 11. stoletju, nakar je njena moč začela upadati. Dokončno pa jo je dotolkla invazija Mongolov, ko so leta 1240 zasedli Kijev.
Od 14. do 17. stoletja je ozemlje današnje Ukrajine spadalo pod Poljsko-litovsko kraljevino, ki je svoj vrhunec dosegla konec 16. in na začetku 17. stoletja kot največja država v Evropi. Slovane na tem območju niso ločevali, ampak so jih skupaj imenovali Rusini. Na polotoku Krim so gospodarili Tatari, vazali carigrajskega sultana, ki so v Ukrajini lovili prebivalstvo in ga prodajali v sužnost ter se nenehno spopadali s Kozaki. Položaj se spremeni sredi 17. stoletja, ko so se začeli verski pritiski, se je večina prebivalstva na področju današnje Ukrajine, pravoslavne vere. Ti so se začeli čutiti ogrožene. Zato so verska in družbena nasprotja leta 1648 privedla do vstaje v Ukrajini pod vodstvom kozaškega poveljnika, hetmana Bogdana Hmelnickega.
Kralj iz izvorno švedske plemiške družine Vasa Vladislav IV. se ob prvih novicah o uporu Hmelnickega ni odzval pravočasno, kmalu zatem pa je umrl. Krono je prevzel njegov mlajši brat Jan II. Kazimir, zadnji poljski kralj iz družine Vasa, ki je vladal porazno in zaradi česa si Poljska-Litva ni opomogla, četudi je njen kralj Jan Sobieski kasneje, leta 1683 pred Dunajem porazil Turke in za vedno odpravil njihovo grožnjo Evropi. Janu Kazimirju ni uspelo zadušiti kozaško-kmečkega upora katerega so podprli donedavni sovražniki Tatari s Krima. Uporniki so zasedli Kijev ter ustanovili samostojni kozaški hetmanat, ki je sčasoma priznal nadoblast Rusije.
V letih od 1654 do 1667 je na ozemlju Ukrajine potekala rusko-poljska vojna, kjer je poljska dokončno izgubila ukrajinsko ozemlje vzhodno od reke Dneper. V letih od 1772 do 1795 so si poljsko-litovsko kraljestvo v treh etapah razdelile Prusija, Avstrija in Rusija. Ukrajinski del je v celoti dobila Rusija, Krimski kanat, čeprav vazalna država Turkov, je ostal uradno samostojen do leta 1783, ko ga je prav tako zasedla Rusija. Tako je Rusko carstvo konec 18. stoletja imelo v rokah ozemlje celotne današnje Ukrajine, ki je ostalo pod Rusijo do prve svetovne vojne.
V žitnici Evrope umetno povzročena lakota
Ukrajina je svojo samostojnost razglasila že leta 1918, ko so po oktobrski revoluciji izkoristili priložnost. A vendar le za kratek čas, saj jo je napadla in zasedla boljševiška Rdeča armada. Ukrajina je tako leta 1921 postala del Sovjetske zveze in se imenovala Ukrajinska socialistična republika. Ko je sovjetsko oblast prevzel Josif Visarionovič Stalin je ta dal pobiti ukrajinsko kulturno elito. Tarča pa niso bili le intelektualci, ampak tudi kmetje, ki so predstavljali najštevilnejši sloj prebivalstva. Dogodek v zgodovini je znan pod imenom holodomor: Ukrajinsko holodomor pomeni pomor z lakoto, kjer holod pomeni lakota, mor pa pomeni pomor.
Med letoma 1929 in 1932 so po vsej Sovjetski zvezi z njihove lastne zemlje nasilno pregnali več kot 1,8 milijona kmetov. Hkrati pa so izvajali nasilno kolektivizacijo, oblast je kmetom nasilno odvzemala pridelke in živino. V letih 1932–1933 pa je sledila velika lakota, v kateri je zaradi pomanjkanja hrane umrlo več kot sedem milijonov ljudi, natančnega števila ne bodo nikoli znane. Lakota v času holodomora je stradajoče ljudi prisilila v grozljiva dejanja in tako se je množično pojavilo ljudožerstvo. Tako zdravnica, ki je junija 1933 pisala prijateljici pravi, da še ni postala ljudožerka, »vendar nisem prepričana, da to ne bom postala, ko bo moje pismo prispelo do vas.«
Umrli so tisti, ki so zavrnili krajo, ki so drugim dajali hrano, ter tisti, ki niso hoteli jesti trupel. Starši, ki so se upirali kanibalizmu, so umrli prej kot njihovi otroci. A oblast, ki je povzročila lakoto je po Ukrajini lepila plakate z napisi: »Pojesti svojega otroka je barbarstvo.« Zaradi ljudožerstva je bilo obsojenih okoli 2.500 ljudi.
2. svetovna vojna
Med začetnim zavezništvom med nacistično Nemčijo in Sovjetsko zvezo po izbruhu druge svetovne vojne je Sovjetska zveza po zasedbi vzhodnega dela Poljske ta ozemlja priključila svoji socialistični republiki Ukrajini. Ko se je leta 1941 vojna začela še med Nemčijo in Sovjetsko zvezo, so Ukrajino zavzeli Nemci in pomorili več kot 1,5 milijona prebivalcev, predvsem Judov.
Rdeča armada je 6. novembra 1943 znova zavzela Kijev, nakar se je Stalin maščeval vsakomur, za katerega je sumil, da je nelojalen ali da je sodeloval z Nemci, saj so nacistične osvajalce nekateri Ukrajinci pričakali kot osvoboditelje, drugi so začeli partizansko vojskovanje proti Nemcem, nekateri pa so se združili v enote, ki so se borile tako proti nacistom kot proti sovjetom. Po Stalinovi smrti, je leta 1954 Nikita Hruščov takrat ruski polotok Krim dodelil Ukrajini. Odlok so pojasnili z gospodarskimi vezmi ter geografsko bližino Krima in Ukrajine.
Černobil
26. aprila 1986 v jedrski elektrarni Černobil pri Pripjatu v Ukrajini zgodila nesreča ob eksploziji jedrskega reaktorja. To je najhujša nesreča v zgodovini jedrske energije. Zaradi odsotnosti zaščitne reaktorske zgradbe so se radioaktivni delci razširili preko zahodne Sovjetske zveze, vzhodne Evrope, Skandinavije, Velike Britanije in vzhodnega dela ZDA. Velika območja Ukrajine, Belorusije in Rusije so bila kontaminirana, kar je povzročilo evakuacijo in preselitev približno 300.000 ljudi. Sovjetska zveza je poskušala nesrečo prikriti in je zavrnila mednarodno pomoč.
Zaradi prikrivanja podatkov takratnih sovjetskih oblasti je zelo težko natančno oceniti število žrtev. Seznami so le delni, saj so sovjetske oblasti kasneje prepovedale zdravnikom navajati »sevanje« kot vzrok smrti na mrliških listih.
Razpad Sovjetske zveze in samostojnost Ukrajine
Konec osemdesetih let so bili Ukrajinci vse bolj nezadovoljni z vladanjem Moskve, leta 1989 je bilo ustanovljeno RUKH – Ljudsko gibanje za obnovo Ukrajine, leta 1990 pa so potekale množične demonstracije. 24. avgusta 1991 je ukrajinski parlament sprejel Odlok o razglasitvi listine o neodvisnosti Ukrajine. Ta poteza je bila potrjena s plebiscitom 1. decembra 1991, na katerem je ukrajinsko prebivalstvo v veliki večini glasovalo za neodvisnost. Udeležilo se ga je približno 84 odstotkov volilnih upravičencev, približno 90 odstotkov pa jih je podprlo neodvisnost. 1. decembra 1991 so se voditelji Ukrajine, Rusije in Belorusije dogovorili o ustanovitvi Skupnosti neodvisnih držav (CIS).
Kmalu zatem je bila ZSSR uradno razpuščena. Predsednika ruske in ukrajinske republike Boris Jelcin in Leonid Kravčuk ter predsednik beloruskega parlamenta Stanislav Šuškevič so podpisali sporazum, s katerim so razglasili razpustitev Sovjetske zveze. Osamosvojitev Ukrajine je bila razglašena 26. decembra 1991.
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NATO in njegova vloga
Nato je kratica za Organizacijo severnoatlantske pogodbe (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization) s sedežem zavezništva v Bruslju. Zamisel o obrambnem zavezništvu držav, je leta 1940 prvi predstavil norveški minister Trygve Lie, ki je kasneje postal prvi generalni sekretar OZN.
4. aprila 1949 so zunanji ministri dvanajstih držav pogodbenic: ZDA, Kanade, Velike Britanije, Francije, Italije, Luksemburga, Belgije, Nizozemske, Islandije, Danske, Norveške in Portugalske v Washingtonu na povabilo vlade ZDA podpisali Severnoatlantsko pogodbo. Sporazum je začel veljati 24. avgusta 1949, ko so ga ratificirale vse podpisnice. Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, prvi generalni sekretar Organizacije severnoatlantskega sporazuma, je dejal, da je namen zveze »obdržati Američane v Evropi, Ruse izven nje, Nemce pa na vajetih«.
Države članice so s pogodbo izrazile privrženost načelom Ustanovne listine OZN, njihovo željo živeti v miru z vsemi ljudstvi in vladami ter odločenost, da bodo varovale demokracijo, svobodo posameznika in pravno državo. Namen zavezništva je odvrnitev oboroženega napada na eno ali več držav članic. Zveza Nato danes združuje 30 držav, od katerih sta dve severnoameriški, preostale so evropske. Današnja vloga zveze ni več enaka tisti, ki jo je igrala v času hladne vojne, ko je v prvi vrsti varovala zahodno, kapitalistično Evropo pred morebitnim napadom komunistične Zveze sovjetskih socialističnih republik. Z razpadom Sovjetske zveze leta 1991 je ta nevarnost minila, zato Nato danes v prvi vrsti deluje oziroma želi delovati predvsem kot branitelj miru v nestabilnih državah po vsem svetu, vsaj tako pravijo.
Način delovanja zveze NATO
Kot odgovor ameriškega strahu pred komunizmom je Nato predstavljal način širitev vpliva ameriške vlade, ki je podrla tri odločitve Trumanovo doktrino, Marshallov načrtu in uveljavljanje strategije zadrževanja. Takšno delovanje lepo ponazarja primer v Turčiji in Grčiji.
V Turčiji in Grčiji je od leta 1947 do 1949 potekala državljanska vojna med prozahodnimi in prosovjetskimi silami. Februarja leta 1947 je London obvestil Washington, da bodo v enem mesecu morali umakniti svoje enote iz Grčije in ustaviti vso pomoč grški vladi. Truman se je odzval tako, da se je odločil ponuditi gospodarsko pomoč Grčiji in Turčiji. Tako so ZDA ustavile širjenje Sovjetske zveze na Sredozemlje in ta dokument, s katerim so se ZDA obvezale, da bodo Grčiji in Turčiji ekonomsko pomagale, so poimenovali Trumanova doktrina.
Namen Marshallovega plana je bil prispevati h gospodarski obnovi Zahodne Evrope, ZDA pa bi zagotovile gmotno podporo v obliki surovin, energentov, strojev in tudi denarja, medtem ko so morali prejemniki razviti skupne programe za gospodarsko sodelovanje. Strategija združevanja pa je pomenila širitev zveze Nato. Dve leti po koncu vojne se je stanje v Turčiji in Grčiji »stabiliziralo« in septembra 1951 sta obe državi dobili povabilo za članstvo v severnoatlantski zvezi. Z vključenjem teh dveh držav bi ZDA uspele zaustaviti morebitno širjenje Sovjetske zveze na Sredozemlje, iz Turčije pa bi celo lahko napadli sovjetsko ozemlje. Tako je na Kavkazu Nato dobil svojo prvo kopensko mejo s Sovjetsko zvezo. Februarja leta 1952 sta se Turčija in Grčija vključili v zvezo Nato.
Nastanek Varšavskega pakta
Po koncu Korejske vojne so politiki v ZDA začeli razpravljati o novih možnostih kako okrepiti Nato in so leta 1954 v kongresu v Berlinu povabili Zvezno republiko Nemčijo, da vstopi v zvezo. Temu predlogu sta močno odreagirali Francija in Sovjetska zveza, ki je celo ponudila svoje članstvo v zvezi kot zameno za sprejem Zvezne republike Nemčije. Zveza republika Nemčija je vstopila v Nato z dodatkom, da »Bundeswehr« ne sme razvijati jedrskega, biološkega in kemičnega orožja.
Kot odgovor na vključitev Zveze republike Nemčija v Nato je Sovjetska zveza v enajstih dneh ustanovila vojaško organizacijo vzhodno-evropskih držav imenovano Varšavski pakt z državami članicami: Poljska, Čehoslovaška, Madžarska, Bolgarija, Romunija, Nemška demokratična republika in Albanija.
Konec hladne vojne
Propad komunističnih sistemov simbolična naznanja padec Berlinskega zidu leta 1989. Naslednje leto sta se združili Nemška demokratična republika in Zvezna republika Nemčija, tako pa je Nato dobil povečano ozemlje. Na pogajanjih med ZDA, Sovjetsko zvezo, Veliko Britanijo, Francijo ter obe Nemčiji so zahodni zavezniki Mihailu Gorbačovu obljubili, da se po združitvi Nemčije Nato ne bo širil na vzhod proti sovjetskim mejam. A so svojo besedo prelomili in kot izgovor navedli, da z razpadom Sovjetske zveze ta dogovor ne velja več. Nadaljevali so s širjenjem proti mejam nove Ruske federacije, kar je še vedno eden glavnih kamnov spotike med Zahodom in Rusijo.
31. marca 1991 so Poljska, Češkoslovaška, Madžarska, Romunija in Bolgarija izstopile iz Varšavskega pakta, ta pa je uradno razpadel 1. julija 1991. Po koncu hladne vojne so se mnogi politiki spraševali ali je NATO še potreben. Nekateri so celo predlagali ukinitev zveze.
Pridružitev Rusije zvezi Nato
Po vključenju Poljske, Češke in Madžarske v zvezo Nato je bilo samo še vprašanje časa kdaj se bodo ostale bivše članice Varšavskega pakta vključile v zvezo. Novoizvoljeni ruski predsednik Vladimir Putin je leta 2000 predlagal ameriškemu predsedniku Billu Clintonu, da se Rusija pridruži zvezi Nato, saj bi s tem imela večjo možnost vplivanja na odločitve v Bruslju. Clinton ni nasprotoval ideji, je pa njegov odhod iz Bele hiše in prihod Georgea Busha leta 2001 na položaj predsednika ZDA prekinil kakršna koli pogajanja o ruskem članstvu v zvezi Nato.
Kakšna je vloga Nata danes
»Pri razmišljanju o akutno nevarni trenutni situaciji je koristno upoštevati ustanovitev Nata in »domnevno grožnjo«. Rusija je bila res grožnja znotraj svojih vzhodnoevropskih domen, tako kot lahko mnogi po svetu potrjujejo grožnje ZDA in njihovih zahodnih zaveznikov,« pravi Noam Chomsky.
For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit.
― Noam Chomsky
»Nato je bil ustanovljen kot odgovor na domnevno grožnjo, ki jo je zahodnim demokracijam predstavljala Sovjetska zveza. Vendar pa Nato ne le da ni izginil po koncu hladne vojne, ampak je nadaljeval svojo širitev proti vzhodu in dejansko Ukrajino danes obravnava kot potencialno članico. Zato je širitev na vzhod, vključno z rednimi vojaškimi manevri in grozečimi oborožitvenimi sistemi, dejavnik za stopnjevanje napetosti.«
»Z razpadom ZSSR ni bilo uradne utemeljitve za Nato in je bilo treba izmisliti nekaj novega, neko novo pretvezo za nasilje in subverzijo. Nastala je »humanitarna intervencija«, ki spada pod doktrino »Odgovornost za zaščito«. Tako je generalni sekretar Nata Jaap de Hoop Scheffer na srečanju junija 2007 naročil, da »morajo Natove enote varovati cevovode, ki prevažajo nafto in plin, ki je namenjena Zahodu,« in morajo zaščititi morske poti, ki jih uporabljajo tankerji in drugi vključeni v »ključno infrastrukturo« energetskega sistema. Območje Natove pristojnosti je torej po vsem svetu.«
Noam Chomsky pri svojih 93 letih še vedno piše, predava in daje intervjuje ter izstopa po svojem prepričanju. »Oče sodobnega jezikoslovja« je v petdesetih letih prejšnjega stoletja povzročil pravo revolucijo v lingvistiki in kognitivnih znanostih, pa vendar ga večina pozna zaradi vztrajnega kritiziranja ameriške zunanje politike in neoliberalizma.
Profesor, priznan filozof in aktivist, je že v šestdesetih letih, med vojno v Vietnamu, bil nekajkrat aretiran, predsednik Nixon ga je celo uvrstil na seznam sovražnikov ZDA. Objavil je več kot sto knjig kjer se ukvarja z jezikoslovjem, geopolitiko, mediji, propagando itd.
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Kdo je odgovoren za krizo v Ukrajini
V članku »Zakaj je za ukrajinsko krizo kriv zahod« iz leta 2014 John J. Mearsheimer podrobno navede okoliščine, ki so stopnjevale napetosti in izpostavi Nato kot ključnega akterja pri kreiranju okoliščin za kreiranje krize.
Pri tem kot globok vzrok omeni cilj ZDA, ki želi Ukrajino umaknit iz Sovjetske orbite in jo inkorporirati v Zahod z namenom, da bo kot nekakšna podružnica ZDA. Pri tem izpostavlja tri ključne elemente, ki jih v strategiji uporablja ZDA, in to so širitev zveze Nato, širitev Evropske Unije in promocija demokracije. Pod promocijo demokracije gre za promoviranje voditeljev, ki so naklonjeni ameriški vladi. A če ameriška vlada ni zadovoljna z rezultati, bo »pomagala« pri strmoglavljenju tega demokratično izvoljenega voditelja.
Pri tem je prav tako potrebno izpostavi dogodek iz leta 1990, ko je na pogajanjih med ZDA, Sovjetsko zvezo, Veliko Britanijo, Francijo ter Nemčijo Mihailu Gorbačovu bilo obljubljeno, da se po združitvi Nemčije Nato ne bo širil na vzhod proti sovjetskim mejam. Besedo so prelomili in nadaljevali s širjenjem proti mejam Rusije.
Z razpadom komunističnega sistema se je povečevalo število novih zaveznic, ki so pristopile zvezi Nato, ki je želel tudi pridružitev Gruzije in Ukrajine. Temu je nasprotovala Rusija, saj to bi pomenilo, da so vojaške Nato sile na meji z Rusijo. Putin pa ja jasno izjavil, da bo uničil Ukrajino še preden bi omogočil, da ta postane zahodna trdnjava na pragu Rusije.
Stopnjevanju krize v Ukrajini je zanetila tudi odločitev, ko je leta 2014 takratni ukrajinski predsednik Viktor Janukovič zavrnil gospodarski posel z EU in se namesto tega odločil, da sprejme rusko proti ponudbo. Ta odločitev je povzročila protivladne demonstracije, številne smrtne žrtve in izgon Janukoviča v Rusijo. Tega istega leta je si je Rusija priključila Krim.
Če želimo razumeti situacijo iz drugega zornega kota, lahko obrnemo zgodbo. Na primer, če bi Rusija in Mehika tvorili zavezništvo podobno Natu in bi se Rusija pojavila oborožena na meji z ZDA, je velika verjetnost, da bi ZDA zradirala Mehiko z obličja zemlje. In točno to se sedaj dogaja v Ukrajini.
John J. Mearsheimer članek iz leta 2014 zaključi z mislijo: »ZDA in njihove evropske zaveznice se zdaj soočajo z izbiro Ukrajine. Lahko nadaljujejo s svojo sedanjo politiko, ki bo zaostrila sovražnost z Rusijo in pri tem uničila Ukrajino – scenarij, v katerem bi vsi izpadli poraženci. Lahko pa preklopijo in delajo na ustvarjanju uspešne, a nevtralne Ukrajine, ki ne ogroža Rusije in omogoča Zahodu, da popravi svoje odnose z Moskvo. S takšnim pristopom bi zmagale vse strani.«
John Joseph Mearsheimer je ameriški politolog in strokovnjak za mednarodne odnose, ki pripada realistični šoli mišljenja. Je zaslužni profesor R. Wendella Harrisona na Univerzi v Chicagu. Opisali so ga kot najvplivnejšega realista svoje generacije.
Mearsheimer je najbolj znan po razvoju teorije ofenzivnega realizma, ki opisuje interakcijo med velikimi silami, ki jo v prvi vrsti poganja racionalna želja po doseganju regionalne hegemonije v anarhičnem mednarodnem sistemu.
Njegova najbolj kontroverzna stališča se nanašajo na domnevni vpliv interesnih skupin na dejanja ameriške vlade na Bližnjem vzhodu, o čemer je pisal v svoji knjigi Izraelski lobi in Zunanja politika ZDA iz leta 2007. V skladu s svojo teorijo Mearsheimer meni, da bo naraščajoča moč Kitajske verjetno spravila v konflikt z ZDA.
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Vojna in dobiček
Med tem, ko vojna na osebnem nivoju ustvarja številne tragedije, prinaša drugim velike dobičke. Kdo ima največje koristi in seveda dobičke govorijo podatki neodvisne raziskave, opravljene s strani SIPRI –Stockholm international peace reserach institute, kjer s 37 % prednjači ZDA, sledi ji Rusija s 20 % izvoza orožja. Če se procenti spremenijo v dejanski znesek, kakor je ta v primeru izvoza ameriških podjetij, kot sta Boeing, ki zraven letal izdeluje tudi vojaško opremo in podjetje Lockheed Martin, ki zraven lovske opreme skrbi še za vojake, ki sta samo z izvozom zaslužila 23,7 bilijonov dolarjev.
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Kdo je Volodimir Zelenski
44-letni ukrajinski predsednik Volodimir Zelenski, je na volitvah leta 2019 porazil dotedanjega predsednika Petra Porošenka z več kot 73 odstotki glasov v drugem krogu predsedniških volitev. Zmagal je z učinkovito virtualno kampanjo, ki jo je vodil skoraj izključno na družabnih omrežjih.
Nekdanji komik in igralec ob izvolitvi ni imel izkušenj s politiko, a je bil znan s televizijskih zaslonov po priljubljeni seriji Služabnik ljudstva v kateri je igral učitelja, nepričakovano izvoljenega za ukrajinskega predsednika. Leta 2018 ustanovi istoimensko stranko Služabnik ljudstva. A zaradi povezav z lastnikom televizijske hiše, ki je predvajala njegove serije in podpirala njegovo kampanjo, oligarhom Igorjem Komsomolskim, je prišla navzkriž njegova obljuba po odpravljanju korupcije.
Med predvolilno kampanjo je Zelenski tudi obljubljal, da bo rešil spor z Moskvo glede separatističnih samooklicanih ljudskih republik Doneck in Lugansk, želel pa je tudi neposredna pogajanja z Rusijo, ki so se zgodila konec leta 2019 na zasedanju normandijske četverice skupaj s francoskim predsednikom in nemško kanclerko. Takrat je osebno srečal Vladimirja Putina, temu pa je sledil obetaven korak z izmenjavo več deset vojnih ujetnikov.
Septembra 2019 Zelenski prvič obišče ZDA in nagovori Organizacijo združenih narodov, kar pa zasenči škandal povezan s takratnim predsednikom Donaldom Trumpom, ki je v telefonskem pogovoru pozval Ukrajino k preiskavi domnevne korupcije povezane sina Joe Bidena, Huner Bidena, ki je bil v upravi ukrajinskega energetskega podjetja Burisma. Ko je 400 milijonov vojaške pomoči Ukrajini Trump zamrznil zaradi osebnega razloga, je Zelenski dal uradno izjavo, da bo Ukrajina preverila Jo Bidena in njegovega sina ter domnevno korupcijo.
Administracija Zelenskega se je leta 2021 soočila z stopnjevanjem napetosti z Rusijo, ki je dosegla vrhunec z začetkom obsežne ruske invazije februarja 2022.
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Humanitarna pomoč za Ukrajino
Tako kot v vsaki vojni, najvišjo ceno plačajo civilisti. Podpredsednica ukrajinske vlade Olga Stefanišina je prošnjo za humanitarno pomoč prebivalcem Ukrajine pospremila z besedami, da se Ukrajina »pogumno bori proti ruskemu okupatorju«. Ruski napadi po njenih besedah ne povzročajo le velikanske škode na kritični infrastrukturi, temveč tudi na domovih. V tej luči je civilno prebivalstvo močno prizadeto, je izpostavila in pozvala k humanitarni pomoči zanj in za ukrajinsko vojsko.
Ukrajina tako zbira finančna sredstva v različnih valutah na posebnem računu UA843000010000000047330992708, pripravila pa je tudi seznam potrebščin, ki jih primanjkuje v državi. Na seznamu potrebščin, ki jih primanjkuje v državi, so poleg zdravil ter medicinskih pripomočkov in paketov prve pomoči med drugim še oblačila, odeje, živila, pitna voda, gradbeni material, pohištvo, šotori, spalne vreče, higienski pripomočki, sveče, svetilke, generatorji. V Sloveniji bodo pomoč zbirali v Ljubljani na Letališki cesti 32a in na Mesarski cesti 4f, v Mariboru na Minarikovi ulici 8 in na Ptuju na Potrčevi 10.
Tudi ADRA Slovenija zbira pomoč za Ukrajino
ADRA Slovenija se pridružuje naporom ukrajinskih kolegov pri zagotavljanju osnovnih potrebščin za ljudi v Ukrajini. V ta namen zbirajo finančna sredstva za pomoč Ukrajini – otrokom, družinam in najbolj ranljivim, ki pomoč potrebujejo. Finančna sredstva bodo namenjena neposredno lokalni pisarni ADRA Ukrajina v njenih naporih zagotoviti takojšnjo pomoč najbolj ranljivim prebivalcem ter za potrebe, ki bodo zaradi konflikta nastale v obmejnih državah.
Pošljite SMS z besedo LJUDJE5 na 1919 in prispevajte 5eur za odziv na terenu. Lahko pa pomagate z nakazilom na: IBAN: SI56 0284 3026 3945 425 BIC: LJBASI2X Referenca: SI00 2022 Ime prejemnika: HD ADRA Slovenija, Njegoševa 15 1000 Ljubljana Namen: UKRAJINA Koda namena: CHAR
Slovenska karitas zbira sredstva za Ukrajino
Slovenska karitas je že začela zbiranje sredstev za pomoč trpečim v Ukrajini in poziva vse, ki želijo pomagati, da nakažejo svoj prispevek. Sredstva bodo posredovali Caritas Ukrajina, ki bo prizadetim v spopadih pomagala s hrano, pitno vodo, varno nastanitvijo in higienskimi pripomočki ter zagotovila varen prevoz ranljivih oseb do varnih območij.
Slovenska karitas vse, ki želijo pomagati ljudem v Ukrajini, prosi in poziva, da svoj prispevek nakažejo na TRR Slovenske karitas SI56 0214 0001 5556 76, s sklicem SI00 870 in namenom Pomoč Ukrajini. Prispevek v višini pet evrov pa je mogoče posredovati tudi s poslanim SMS sporočilom KARITAS5 na 1919.
Pomoč zbira tudi Rdeči križ
Rdeči križ Slovenije se ob krizi v Ukrajini pridružuje pozivom k človečnosti in miru. Iz sklada solidarnosti je za pomoč Ukrajini danes odobril nakazilo 10.000 evrov. Za vse, ki želijo pomagati prizadetim v Ukrajini, pa sta Rdeči križ in Uncef Slovenija odprla računa.
Kdor želi pomagati prizadetim v Ukrajini, lahko prispevek za akcijo Pomoč Ukrajini nakaže na TRR SI56 0310 0111 1122 296. Sklic je SI00 96889, koda namena pa CHAR. Uporabniki mobilnih storitev A1, Telekom, Telemach in T-2 lahko prispevajo tudi s poslanim sms-sporočilom na 1919 z besedo BEGUNCEM, s čimer prispevajo en evro, ali BEGUNCEM5, s čimer prispevajo pet evrov.
Podpora preko Unicefa
Iz Unicefa Slovenija sporočajo, da je v Ukrajini ogroženih 7,5 milijona otrok. Unicef je na terenu, z nujno pomočjo, s čisto pitno vodo, s pripomočki za zdravstvo in izobraževanje in s psihosocialno pomočjo za otroke in družine. A potrebe so ogromne, zato pozivajo k pomoči. Donirati je mogoče na spletni strani https://doniraj.unicef.si/pomoc/ukrajina, s sms-sporočilom s ključno besedo UNICEF10 ali UNICEF5 na 1919, ali pa na račun Slovenske fundacije za Uncef SI56 0201 3025 9875 526, referenca SI 00 41103.
Za lastnike živalic
Slovenija ima možnost, da v izjemnih primerih, kakor so nenadne naravne nesreče, politični nemiri ter druge vrste višje sile, ki prizadenejo lastnike hišnih živali, dovoli izjeme od izpolnjevanja zdravstvenih zahtev za netrgovske premike hišnih živali. Za dovolitev odstopanja mora lastnik z vlogo predhodno zaprositi za dovoljenje pristojnega organa, živali pa morajo po prihodu v Slovenijo ostati v izolaciji do izpolnjevanja zdravstvenih pogojev, zaradi varovanja zdravja ljudi in živali.
Za sprejem vlog je na GU UVHVVR vzpostavljena kontaktna točka: pets-crisisUA.uvhvvr@gov.si . Kontaktna točka bo sprejela vlogo in jo posredovala na elektronski naslov pristojnega OU, za naslov, ki ga bo navedel lastnik živali na vlogi. Lastnik živali mora po prihodu na navedeni naslov o temu nemudoma obvestiti pristojni Območni urad UVHVVR na elektronski naslov.
Zanimivost: Več kot trideset let animirana serija Simpsonovi zabava gledalce in med drugim napove marsikateri dogodek. Tako so napovedali teroristične napade 11. septembra, Marge je med drugim napovedala epidemijo ebole, predvideli predsedniški mandat Donalda Trumpa, prihod pametnih ur, leta 1998 pa so predvideli rusko invazijo na Ukrajino. V preroškem delu z naslovom Simpson Tide Homer z nespametnim dejanjem povzroči oživitev Sovjetske zveze, ta pa kasneje na ulice pošlje tanke in obnovi berlinski zid.
(English)
Who is responsible for the war in Ukraine
About 44 million Ukrainians woke up in a state of war on Thursday, February 24th. And to understand why this happened, it is necessary to explore the past.
The event, which completely overshadowed the virus and diverted the world public to the territory of Ukraine, which has been at war since Thursday, predicts a dark scenario for the whole of Europe if things do not calm down. Russian forces have attacked Ukraine’s state infrastructure, particularly military targets and airports, and are also said to have largely destroyed anti-aircraft defenses.
At a meeting in Brussels, EU foreign ministers adopted the »worst package of sanctions« against Russia, and Putin responded to the West’s new sanctions by ordering an increase in the readiness of nuclear forces. For the first time, the European Union will also finance the purchase and delivery of weapons to Ukraine worth 450 million euros. Meanwhile, Ukraine has said it is ready to negotiate with Russia on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border near Chernobyl.
And although Vladimir Putin is fully responsible for the attack, it is also necessary to condemn NATO for creating circumstances that have escalated tensions and thus contributed to the state of war in Ukraine.
Understanding the history of Ukraine
Ukraine is the largest European country with an important geostrategic position between Russia and Europe. With an area of 603,550 square kilometers, it is one of the 50 largest countries in the world. Due to the extensive fertile plains, which are sown mainly with cereals, it was nicknamed the »granary of Europe«.
As a starting point, the country is called Kievan Russia, which is considered by its predecessors as Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians. There are assumptions that this was not a country of Eastern Slavs, but that it was founded by the Scandinavians – Vikings at the end of the ninth century. Kievan Russia with its capital in Kyiv reached its peak in the 11th century, after which its power began to decline. It was finally overthrown by the Mongol invasion when Kyiv was occupied in 1240.
From the 14th to the 17th century, the territory of present-day Ukraine belonged to the Kingdom of Poland-Lithuania, which reached its peak in the late 16th and early 17th centuries as the largest country in Europe. The Slavs in this area were not separated but were collectively called Ruthenians. The Crimean peninsula was ruled by the Tatars, vassals of the Sultan of Constantinople, who hunted the population in Ukraine and sold it into slavery, constantly fighting the Cossacks. The situation changed in the middle of the 17th century, when religious pressures began, the majority of the population in the area of today’s Ukraine, the Orthodox faith. They began to feel threatened. Therefore, religious and social contradictions in 1648 led to an uprising in Ukraine led by the Cossack commander, Hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky.
King of the original Swedish noble family Vasa Vladislav IV. did not respond in time to the first news of Khmelnytsky’s revolt but died soon after. The crown was taken over by his younger brother Jan II. Kasimir, was the last Polish king of the Vasa family to rule defeatist, which is why Poland-Lithuania did not recover, even though its king Jan Sobieski later defeated the Turks in front of Vienna in 1683 and eliminated their threat to Europe forever. Jan Kazimir failed to quell the Cossack-peasant uprising, which was supported by the former enemies of the Crimean Tatars. The rebels occupied Kyiv and established an independent Cossack hetmanate, which eventually recognized Russia’s supremacy.
In the years from 1654 to 1667, the Russo-Polish War took place on the territory of Ukraine, where Poland finally lost Ukrainian territory east of the Dnieper River. Between 1772 and 1795, the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania was divided into Prussia, Austria and Russia in three stages. The Ukrainian part was given entirely to Russia, the Crimean Khanate, although a vassal state of the Turks, remained officially independent until 1783, when it was also occupied by Russia. Thus, at the end of the 18th century, the Russian Empire had in its hands the territory of the whole of present-day Ukraine, which remained under Russia until the First World War.
Holodomor, man-made famine
Ukraine declared its independence in 1918 when it seized the opportunity after the October Revolution. But only for a short time, as it was attacked and occupied by the Bolshevik Red Army. Ukraine thus became part of the Soviet Union in 1921 and became known as the Ukrainian Socialist Republic. When Joseph Visarionovich Stalin took over Soviet power, he ordered the killing of Ukraine’s cultural elite. The target was not only intellectuals but also farmers, who represented the largest part of the population. An event in history is known as the Holodomor: Ukrainian Holodomor means death by starvation, where cold means hunger and plague means death.
Between 1929 and 1932, more than 1.8 million peasants were forcibly expelled from their own lands throughout the Soviet Union. At the same time, violent collectivization was carried out, and the authorities forcibly confiscated crops and livestock from farmers. In 1932-1933, however, a great famine ensued, in which more than seven million people died from food shortages, the exact number of which will never be known. Famine during the Holodomor forced starving people into horrific acts, and so cannibalism arose en masse. Thus the doctor who wrote to a friend in June 1933 says that she has not yet become a cannibal, »but I am not sure that I will not become one when my letter reaches you.«
Those who refused to steal gave food to others, and those who refused to eat the corpses died. Parents who resisted cannibalism died earlier than their children. But the authorities that caused the famine put up posters across Ukraine reading, »Eating your child is barbaric.« About 2,500 people were convicted of cannibalism.
World War II
During the initial alliance between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union after the outbreak of World War II, the Soviet Union annexed these territories to its Socialist Republic of Ukraine after occupying the eastern part of Poland. When the war between Germany and the Soviet Union began in 1941, Ukraine was occupied by the Germans and killed more than 1.5 million people, mostly Jews.
On November 6, 1943, the Red Army recaptured Kyiv, after which Stalin retaliated against anyone he suspected of being disloyal or collaborating with the Germans. Nazi conquerors were expected by some Ukrainians as liberators, others began partisan warfare against the Germans, and some joined forces to fight both the Nazis and the Soviets. After Stalin’s death, in 1954 Nikita Khrushchev then granted the Russian peninsula of Crimea to Ukraine. The decree was explained by economic ties and the geographical proximity of Crimea and Ukraine.
Chernobyl
On April 26, 1986, an accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, during the explosion of a nuclear reactor. This is the worst accident in the history of nuclear energy. Due to the absence of a protective reactor structure, radioactive particles spread across the Western Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and the eastern United States. Large areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia have been contaminated, resulting in the evacuation and relocation of about 300,000 people. The Soviet Union tried to cover up the disaster and refused international aid.
Due to the concealment of the data of the then Soviet authorities, it is very difficult to estimate the exact number of victims. The lists are only partial, as Soviet authorities later banned doctors from citing “radiation” as the cause of death on death certificates.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of Ukraine
In the late 1980s, Ukrainians became increasingly dissatisfied with Moscow’s rule, in 1989 the People’s Movement for the Reconstruction of Ukraine was founded, and in 1990 mass demonstrations took place. On August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Decree on the proclamation of the Charter of Independence of Ukraine. This move was confirmed by a plebiscite on December 1, 1991, in which the Ukrainian population overwhelmingly voted for independence. It was attended by about 84 percent of eligible voters, and about 90 percent supported independence. On December 1, 1991, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus agreed to establish the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Shortly afterward, the USSR was officially dissolved. The Presidents of the Russian and Ukrainian Republics Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kravchuk and the Speakers of the Belarusian Parliament Stanislav Shushkevich signed an agreement declaring the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine’s independence was proclaimed on December 26, 1991.
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NATO and its role
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is based in Brussels. The idea of a defense alliance was first introduced in 1940 by Norwegian Minister Trygve Lie, who later became the first UN Secretary-General.
4. April 1949, the Foreign Ministers of the twelve States Parties: the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington at the invitation of the US Government. The agreement entered into force on 24 August 1949, when it was ratified by all signatories. Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, the first secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said the alliance’s intention was »to keep Americans in Europe, Russians out of it, and Germans on leash.«
With the Treaty, the Member States expressed their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, their desire to live in peace with all peoples and governments, and their determination to protect democracy, individual freedom, and the rule of law. The purpose of the Alliance is to deter an armed attack on one or more Member States. Today, NATO brings together 30 countries, two of which are North American and the rest European. Today’s role of the Union is no longer the same as that played during the Cold War when it primarily protected Western, capitalist Europe from a possible attack by the Communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, this danger has passed, so NATO today primarily acts or wants to act primarily as a defender of peace in unstable countries around the world, at least so they say.
The way NATO operate
In response to America’s fear of communism, Nato presented a way to expand the influence of the U.S. government, which undermined three decisions of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the implementation of a containment strategy. Such action is well illustrated by the case in Turkey and Greece.
From 1947 to 1949, a civil war broke out in Turkey and Greece between pro-Western and pro-Soviet forces. In February 1947, London informed Washington that they would have to withdraw their troops from Greece within a month and stop all aid to the Greek government. Truman responded by deciding to offer economic aid to Greece and Turkey. Thus, the United States stopped the expansion of the Soviet Union into the Mediterranean, and this document, by which the United States committed itself to help Greece and Turkey economically, was called the Truman Doctrine. The Marshall Plan aimed to contribute to the economic recovery of Western Europe, and the US would provide material support in the form of raw materials, energy, machinery, and also money, while the recipients had to develop joint economic cooperation programs. The unification strategy, however, meant the enlargement of Nato.
Two years after the end of the war, the situation in Turkey and Greece »stabilized« and in September 1951, both countries received an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. By including these two countries, the United States would be able to halt the possible expansion of the Soviet Union into the Mediterranean, and Turkey could even invade Soviet territory. Thus, in the Caucasus, Nato got its first land border with the Soviet Union. In February 1952, Turkey and Greece joined Nato.
The emergence of the Warsaw Pact
After the end of the Korean War, U.S. politicians began discussing new ways to strengthen Nato, and in 1954, in a congress in Berlin, they invited the Federal Republic of Germany to join the alliance. France and the Soviet Union reacted strongly to this proposal, the Soviet Union even offered to join the union in exchange for the admission of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Republic has joined Nato, adding that the Bundeswehr must not develop nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.
Eleven days later, in response to the accession of the Alliance of the Republic of Germany to Nato, the Soviet Union established a military organization of Eastern European countries called the Warsaw Pact with Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the German Democratic Republic, and Albania.
The end of the Cold War
The collapse of communist systems symbolically heralded the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The following year, the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany merged, giving Nato enlarged territory. In negotiations between the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, France, and both Germany, Western allies promised Mikhail Gorbachev that Nato would not expand eastward toward Soviet borders after German unification. But they broke their word and stated as an excuse that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, this agreement is no longer valid. They continued to expand towards the borders of the new Russian Federation, which is still one of the main stumbling issues between the West and Russia.
On 31 March 1991, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria withdrew from the Warsaw Pact, which officially collapsed on 1 July 1991. After the end of the Cold War, many politicians wondered if Nato was still needed. Some even suggested its termination.
Russia’s accession to NATO
Following the accession of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary to Nato, it was only a matter of time before the other former members of the Warsaw Pact joined. In 2000, newly elected Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to US President Bill Clinton that Russia join Nato, as this would give it a greater chance of influencing decisions in Brussels. Clinton did not oppose the idea, but his departure from the White House and the arrival of George W. Bush in 2001 as president of the United States interrupted any negotiations on Russia’s membership in Nato.
What is the role of NATO today
»When considering an acute dangerous current situation, it is useful to consider the establishment of Nato and the ‘alleged threat’. Russia has indeed been a threat within its Eastern European domains, just as many around the world can attest to the threats of the United States and its Western allies,« says Noam Chomsky.
For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit.
― Noam Chomsky
»It was then set up in response to an alleged threat posed to Western democracies by the Soviet Union. However, Nato not only did not disappear after the end of the Cold War but continued its expansion to the east and effectively treats Ukraine today as a potential member. Therefore, eastward expansion, including regular military maneuvers and threatening weapons systems, is a factor in escalating tensions.«
»With the disintegration of the USSR, there was no official justification for Nato and something new had to be invented, a new pretext for violence and subversion. A “humanitarian intervention” has emerged, which falls under the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine. Thus, at a meeting in June 2007, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer ordered that “NATO troops must protect pipelines carrying oil and gas destined for the West” and protect the sea lanes used by tankers and others involved in critical infrastructure ”of the energy system. NATO’s area of competence is therefore all over the world.«
At 93, Noam Chomsky still writes, lectures, and gives interviews, and stands out for his beliefs. The »father of modern linguistics« caused a real revolution in linguistics and cognitive science in the 1950s, but most know him for his persistent criticism of American foreign policy and neoliberalism.
The professor, a renowned philosopher, and activist was arrested several times during the Vietnam War in the 1960s, and President Nixon even put him on the list of US enemies. He has published more than a hundred books dealing with linguistics, geopolitics, media, propaganda, etc.
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Who is responsible for the crisis in Ukraine
In his 2014 article, »Why the West Is to Blame for the Ukrainian Crisis,« John J. Mearsheimer details the circumstances that escalated tensions and highlights Nato as a key player in creating the circumstances for the crisis.
He cites as a deep reason the goal of the United States, which wants to withdraw Ukraine from the Soviet orbit and incorporate it into the West with the intention of being a kind of US branch. He highlights three key elements used by the United States in its strategy, namely Nato enlargement, European Union enlargement, and the promotion of democracy. Democracy is about promoting leaders who are in favor of the US government. But if the US government is not happy with the results, it will “help” overthrow this democratically elected leader.
It is also necessary to highlight the event of 1990 when negotiations between the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and Germany promised Mikhail Gorbachev that Nato would not expand eastward towards Soviet borders after German unification. They broke the word and continued to spread towards Russia’s borders.
With the collapse of the communist system, the number of new allies joining Nato, which also wanted the accession of Georgia and Ukraine, increased. Russia has opposed this, as it would mean that Nato military forces are on the border with Russia. Putin, however, has made it clear that he will destroy Ukraine before it can become a Western stronghold on Russia’s doorstep.
The escalation of the crisis in Ukraine was also fueled by a decision when in 2014 the then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych rejected a business deal with the EU and instead decided to accept Russia against the offer. This decision led to anti-government demonstrations, numerous deaths, and the expulsion of Yanukovych to Russia. That same year, Russia annexed Crimea.
If we want to understand the situation from a different angle, we can turn the story around. For example, if Russia and Mexico formed a Nato-like alliance and Russia emerged armed on the border with the U.S., there is a high probability that the U.S. would delete Mexico from the face of the earth. And this is exactly what is happening in Ukraine now.
John J. Mearsheimer concludes the 2014 article with the thought: »The United States and its European allies now face a choice on Ukraine. They can continue their current policy, which will exacerbate hostilities with Russia and devastate Ukraine in the process—a scenario in which everyone would come out a loser. Or they can switch gears and work to create a prosperous but neutral Ukraine, one that does not threaten Russia and allows the West to repair its relations with Moscow. With that approach, all sides would win.«
John Joseph Mearsheimer is an American political scientist and international relations expert who belongs to the realistic school of thought. He is Professor Emeritus of R. Wendell Harrison at the University of Chicago. He was described as the most influential realist of his generation.
Mearsheimer is best known for developing the theory of offensive realism, which describes the interaction between great powers driven primarily by a rational desire to achieve regional hegemony in an anarchic international system.
His most controversial views relate to the alleged influence of interest groups on US government actions in the Middle East, as he wrote in his 2007 book, The Israeli Lobby, and US Foreign Policy. According to his theory, Mearsheimer brought into conflict with the United States.
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War and profit
History teaches us that war profits have a very special pattern. And while war creates many tragedies on a personal level, it brings great profits to others. Who has the greatest benefits and, of course, profits are shown by the data of an independent survey conducted by SIPRI – Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, where the US leads with 37%, followed by Russia with 20% of arms exports. If the percentages change to the actual amount, as in the case of exports from American companies such as Boeing, which also makes military equipment in addition to aircraft, and Lockheed Martin, which takes care of soldiers who hunt for soldiers who only earn from exports, $ 23,7 billion.
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Who is Volodymyr Zelensky
44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won in the 2019 elections with more than 73 percent in the second round of the presidential election. He won with an effective virtual campaign, which he ran almost exclusively on social media.
The former comedian and actor had no experience in politics at the time of his election but was known from television screens for the popular series Servant of the People in which he played a teacher unexpectedly elected Ukrainian president. In 2018, he founded the Servant of the People party. But ties to the owner of the television station that aired his series and supported his campaign, oligarch Igor Komsomolsky, have shattered his promise to crack down on corruption.
During the election campaign, Zelenski also promised to save il dispute with Moscow over the separatist self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and also wanted direct negotiations with Russia, which took place in late 2019 at a meeting of the Normandy Quartet with the French president and German chancellor. It was then that he met Vladimir Putin in person, followed by a promising step with the exchange of dozens of prisoners of war.
In September 2019, Zelensky visits the United States for the first time and addresses the United Nations. That was overshadowed by a scandal involving then-President Donald Trump, who called on Ukraine to investigate the alleged corruption of Joe Biden’s son, Huner Biden, who served on the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. When Trump froze 400 million in military aid to Ukraine for personal reasons, Zelensky made an official statement that Ukraine would check on Jo Biden’s son and alleged corruption.
In 2021, the Zelensky administration faced escalating tensions with Russia, which culminated in the start of a massive Russian invasion in February 2022.
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Humanitarian aid for Ukraine
As in any war, the highest price is paid by civilians. So look in the local community at how you can help Ukraine.
Interesting fact: For more than thirty years, the animated series The Simpsons has entertained viewers and, among other things, announced many events. Thus, they announced the terrorist attacks of September 11, Marge announced, among other things, the Ebola epidemic, predicted the presidential term of Donald Trump, the arrival of smartwatches, and in 1998 they predicted the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In a prophetic work entitled Simpson Tide Homer unwisely revives the Soviet Union, which in turn later sends tanks to the streets and restores the Berlin Wall.
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Almira Ćatović 